Principal’s Message for 2010-2011
Welcome to the Charter School of Educational Excellence (CSEE). Our building is home to over 500 students in grades K-7 from all areas of Westchester and New York City. This year CSEE will be opening its new middle school program that will be temporarily housed at 470 Nepperhan Avenue in Yonkers, NY, while construction efforts are underway for the new building.
Our middle school program will give our students continuity in their education and give us the opportunity to continue building their foundation of learning to adequately prepare them for success in high school. Our goal is to ensure that our students meet New York State Standards and achieve proficiency with distinction in English Language Arts (ELA) and math on the state assessments in Grades 3-7. CSEE wants to ensure that when students complete their education with us they are fully prepared to compete and be successful in higher education and beyond.
CSEE is a unique and special place for many reasons. In addition to the academic responsibility we have as a school, our aim is to motivate, inspire and instill a love for learning in all children. Our vision for education has been proven effective as evidenced in CSEE winning the prestigious International Reading Association’s Exemplary Reading Program Award for New York State and also becoming a Validated School for Best Practices in Literacy by the NYSED S3TAIR Project in 2010. A visit from members of the New York State Regents in June 2010 further confirmed that our practices are exemplary and should be a model of replication for other public schools.
Our success derives from students benefiting from learning in an environment that is warm, nurturing and supportive. Our understanding that every child has their own individual learning needs helps CSEE design lessons that are differentiated to their level and style of learning to ensure every student maximizes their potential for academic success. CSEE nurtures the intellectual development of students to help them achieve their academic goals.
Character development is another important component in CSEE’s program. Through our Core Virtues program, our lessons instill the concept of respect for self and others and engage students in projects that promote their understanding of the civic and moral responsibility they have to themselves and to the world around them. Our monthly themes culminate in a celebration that recognizes students who demonstrate virtuous qualities in their day to day interactions with peers and others. CSEE promotes good citizenship in students.
Our programs are led by highly qualified staff where everyone at CSEE takes an active role in educating our children. Our professionals operate with the fundamental belief that teamwork and collaboration supports our standards of excellence that are intended to promote student achievement and the professional development and the success of our staff here at CSEE. CSEE is a community of team players and lifelong learners.
We invite parents, community and supporters of CSEE to join us in making a difference. As models and mentors, the imprints we leave in the hearts and minds of our students will be virtues they will learn to live by throughout their lifetime. Our contributions to our students’ education and our high expectations of ethics, self-discipline and academic excellence are the key to our students achieving long-term happiness, success and independence. CSEE wants to see students persevere and attain their aspirations.
I look forward to continuing to serve the CSEE school community and finding new ways to make the learning experiences for our children better, more meaningful and enriching. The staff and I are committed to making our school the best place for students to learn. Therefore, your continued support and your participation in all of our efforts will make this and much more possible.
Thank you for entrusting your child’s education to the Charter School of Educational Excellence.
Cordially,
Catalina Castillo
Principal
